EL PASO, Texas - Just like the UTEP men’s and women’s basketball teams, recruiting expert Angel Luna has been working overtime to provide our readers with the most up to date recruiting information. With national signing day for football less than a month away (Feb. 1st) the UTEP coaching staff is looking to close up the 2012 class with some quality prospects as we inch closer and closer to spring practices.
First on defense,
S/DB Dashone Smith (5-11, 185 lbs) from Klein, TX (Klein Oak HS) committed to UTEP over the weekend after his official visit on 1/13. Smith had offers from Minnesota, Nevada, Louisiana Tech and Western Michigan. He is a talented prospect that could provide immediate help on special teams with the potential to contribute in the defensive backfield as his learns the system.
Ratings:
3 stars and 5.5 grade by rivals.com
3 stars and #98 DB by scout.com
3 stars and #102 DB by 247sports.com
2 stars and &3 grade by espnu.com
As per espnu.com: “Smith is a ball hawking strong safety that takes some risks in order to make plays. Shows average size at the strong safety position, needs to add more playing strength. Willing hitter that will front up the ball carrier, good form tackler. Needs to continue to develop strength and mass to back up his hits. Plays with a high motor, flies around the field looking to make plays. Very aggressive player who is quick to come downhill vs the run. Takes good angles to the ball carrier. Can get himself out of position vs play action pass because of his aggressive nature. Looks comfortable playing down around the line of scrimmage. Needs to refine his technique as a defensive back, tends to hop and could struggle vs better route runners in coverage. Not a highly disciplined player vs the pass. Primarily a zone player at this point, shows enough speed and change of direction to be able to matchup vs backs and tight ends at the next level. Displays solid ball skills and has some ability to make plays after an interception. Should be a contributor on special teams, especially on coverage units. Overall, Smith is an aggressive defensive player that can develop into a tackling machine at the next level, needs to continue to add strength to match his playing style and improve his technical skills vs the pass.”
Video:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/539629/dashone-smith
Story:
http://www.ihigh.com/centralhouston/article_98833.html
CB Patrick Levels 5’10 175 pounds (4.45 – 40 yard dash) from Dallas, TX (Franklin D. Roosevelt HS) is scheduled to visit UTEP this weekend. Levels currently holds offers from Baylor, Colorado State, Houston, Morgan State, Rice and Northern Colorado. Levels three scheduled visits (of five) so far: Baylor (1/13/12), UTEP (1/20/12) and Houston (01/27/12).
Levels finished his senior season with 177 tackles, 118 solo, 8 INTs (4 TD returns), 3 punt return TDs, and 6 TFL. He was selected to the 2011 Class 3A All-State First Team Defense. Levels was a finalist for the 2011 Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Player of the Year, which was awarded to Aledo’s RB Johnathan Gray.
Ratings:
3 stars and 5.5 rate by rivals.com
Story:
http://m.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/dec/16/prolific-aledo-rb-named-2011-ap-player-of-year/
Offensively, OL Gino Bresolin (6-2, 270 lbs) from Sammamish, WA (Eastlake HS) is strongly considering UTEP after his official visit this past weekend. Bresolin currently holds offers from Wyoming, Army and UTEP. He is also receiving interest from Washington State, Colorado and Colorado State.
Video:
Stories:
http://northwesteliteindex.com/rankings/washington/positional/washington_ol.html #21 OT in Washington
http://www.northwestprepreport.com/eastlake-football-perfect-in-2011_thanks-to-stout-line-play
OL Dimitric Camiel (6-6, 290 lbs) from Houston, TX (Westfield HS) is scheduled to visit UTEP later this month after visiting Indiana this past weekend. Camiel currently holds offers from Arizona, State, Indiana, UTEP, Kansas, Kentucky, Tulane, Utah State and Wyoming with interest from other schools.
Ratings:
3 stars and 5.5 grade by rivals.com
Stories:
http://www.ihigh.com/northhouston/article_69929.html
http://www.ihigh.com/northhouston/article_63158.html
Angel Luna can be contacted at show@minerillustrated.com.
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Thanks for the updates Angel. Any info on men’s BB recruiting. Interested to see if Anthony January is still being offered a scolie after his recent comments. And if he or by chance another player signs then who will be out of the loop. That’s the juicy info we all want to hear!
David, thanks for the comments and while it seems like January is a soft commit to UTEP as he explores his options we won’t know for sure until April during the regular BB signing period. As for his schollie it seems as it is still on the table since Floyd can’t comment on recruits until they sign on the dotted line. Although January would be a great addition to the 2012 class Floyd has already snagged some high ranked prospects in Twymond Howard and Chris Washburn. Throw in combo guard Dustin Watts and things are looking great for the years to come. And as always MI will post any new info here on the scouting mine.
any word who that guy is in street clothes on the miner bench would be big help to!
Great article once again on behalf of MI. I have a few questions regarding the upcoming class of recruits. Whatever happened to the WR who was ensuring he was not “cutting himself short”? Are there any others who appear to be swaying in another direction so close towards to signing day? It looks as if this year’s class is full of great recruits which have helped the staff from picking from the JUCO ranks. Good luck Miners and as always, great stuff!
Last comment, promise. There was a rumor about a semi-pro player from the immediate are joining the team this spring, what is the story on that? Any info would be great, thanks again!
Just to give you a leg up, OL Gino Bresolin (6-2, 270 lbs) from Sammamish, WA (Eastlake HS) is laready being shown as committed on rivals.com. Is he not yet rated, and why? The site list him as committing as of today, this is looking to be a great class indeed.
JJimenez3272, thanks for your comments.
As far as the semi-pro player, Miner Illustrated has learned that OL/DL Tremell Nelson (6-0, 260 lbs) a semi-pro football player with the El Paso Seminoles (Minor Professional Football League) could be joining UTEP. I will update his status as we receive more information. Plus, a couple recruits from the 2012 class are already attending classes at UTEP (RB Leon Hayes and LB Darnell Murray).
I will update the status on a few recruits next week. Most of them are going to visit UTEP this weekend.